24th Annual Mayor's Proud Partners Awards

The University of Houston's Plant Operations Department received an Honorable Mention Award in the 2008 Mayor's Proud Partners competition for the UH Jogging and Recreation Trail project. The 24th annual awards are scheduled for Monday, November 17 at the InterContinental Hotel.

The UH jogging trail, which runs the perimeter of a detention pond on University Drive near the Campus Recreation and Wellness Center, is part of the university's $12 million dollar beautification plan for the central campus; a move that will help attract an influx of new students that UH expects to gain. The trail offers par course fitness stations for participants who want to use pull-up bars. Funding for this project was $280,513. Future enhancements include installing additional trails throughout campus which will be marked and identified for patrons who wish to run longer distances. The initial jogging trail is just the beginning of a three-phase trail system which will provide jogging trails around the campus perimeter of 3.85 miles and an inner loop trails which will pass by the more scenic areas of the campus. There will also be a connection that provides access to the City of Houston Parks and Recreation and Harris County Flood Control Bayou Trail System.